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Blue Mountain SnowmakersThu, 06 Apr 2017 16:25:33 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngbluemountainsnowmakersdotcomhttps://bluemountainsnowmakers.com
officially retired.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/04/05/officially-retired/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/04/05/officially-retired/#commentsWed, 05 Apr 2017 18:09:37 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=4775]]>Phew— We did it! Another season snowed, partied, retired. This past Sunday’s Pond Skim, we may have made our pond a teensy bit too long (about 85 feet!). The skim fails and killer wipe outs count was high, making the handful of determined and well-experienced skimmer successes all the more celebratory and entertaining. We enjoyed the sidelines with beers in hand, as the gorilla, Santa Claus, retro suits, sparkling mullets, and more prayed for speed on mashed potato slopes to clear the skim warm and dry.
Wa-wa-wa-wipe out!

Most notably, we pay final tribute this season to a man that helped build Little Gap to Blue Mountain Ski Area to, what we know today as, Blue Mountain Resort.

MISER FILES:

Al Pettit

Meet, Allan Pettit.

Better known as: Al

Work: Full-time, Maintenance Manager, Mountain Ops

Play: Ski

Favorite trail: Vista because it’s “easy going.”

Al is officially retired!

Al has redefined the title ‘Jack-of-all-Trades’ during his forty years of work at the mountain. Since the mid-1980s, he earned the title of Maintenance Manager. Al learned most of what he knows by doing it— a hands on mix of construction, snowmaking, grooming, welding, and now a master of mechanics.

The mountain has been home to his good working relationships and to his family. Al and his wife, Laun, who he met in Vietnam during his 1970-72 years of service in the US Army, shared time working and enjoying mountain life. Their son, Matt, and daughter, Marie, grew up skiing the trails, as Al repaired groomer cats and Laun worked housekeeping and food services in the Summit Lodge.

Al has witnessed the growth from three to thirty-nine ski trails, and the advances of manual to hydraulic-powered groomers. He has played a significant role behind-the-scenes, and he’s leaving big shoes to fill.

A quick look at numbers shared from Brian, a fellow mechanic of Al’s crew, help to show the impact of Al’s knowledge and expertise.

Total, we have ten groomers: one with a basket lift, two smaller specialty cats, and seven that work the trails nightly. Of those seven, the hours run equal:

1 almost 15,000 hr

2 over 13,000 hr

1 – 10,850 hr

1 – 9,700 hr

1 – 7,300 hr

1 – 6,200 hr

Snow cat salesmen tell us that most resorts trade or replace their machines around 6000 hrs run. If you multiply the hours run x 45, the answer would equal the number of miles on a truck or bus motor. To date, three out of seven cats have over half a million miles each— and they all continue to groom the slopes each and every single night.

Next season marks the 40th anniversary for the mountain, but this season’s end calls for Al to retire. He plans to return to Blue part-time next winter, but to spend most his retirement traveling, working to check-off the ‘Honey-do List,’ and creating more memories with his wife and family.

A word from Papa Miser: “Al is one of the greatest guys I ever had the pleasure of working with. A really funny guy. He is a very passionate man for his trade. As good of a mechanic as he is, he is a more compassionate man and cares about every one he works with. He will be sorely missed.”

From the Blue Mountain Resort Family, we extend our

gratitude and appreciation to Allan Pettit.

For his service. For his passion. For his time and commitment—

forty years and counting.

Al grooming Vista. 1980s.

Thank you, skiers & riders, for another season and, as always, a real good time!

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/04/05/officially-retired/feed/217629968_1462862240399969_3109321440600502141_nbluemountainsnowmakersIMG_4216al-pettitthumbnail_IMG_1989dump-em-outhomestretch.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/29/homestretch/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/29/homestretch/#respondWed, 29 Mar 2017 20:53:31 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=4738]]>‘Tis the season to rip off our snow pants and board in our bathing suits! The snow is slowly shedding tears into sugar trails. The trees’ naked limbs are budding with laughter. The mountain is breathing deeply with revived energy and anticipation of the newness of spring.

We have closed our doors for the remainder of weekdays in a grand effort to preserve the snow for the best closing weekend possible. The forecast predicts over an inch of rain on Friday, but our groomers are working hard to revive and prep trails for Saturday. Terrain parks are being rebuilt and moguls will be freshly seeded.

Patching Paradise.

Recover and reboot.

Razor’s Edge winch hour.

WE WILL BE OPEN

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!

Moving into the beginning days of April, we are excited to shred and party one more time on snowy slopes. Be sure to sign up for this Sunday’s pond skim—or be there for prime live entertainment of skim triumphs and wipeouts!

A word from Papa Miser: “Thanks to all snowmakers (the misers!) and groomers for their hard work. To our skiers and riders, we hope you enjoyed the snow. The weather was challenging this season, but we did the very best that we could have possibly done. We are the biggest and the best snowmaking crew on the east coast, and we thank you for your continued support.”

See you on the slopes for the last weekend of the season and closing day!

Cheers & gratitude,

the snowmisers

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/29/homestretch/feed/0IMG_2045bluemountainsnowmakersIMG_2045IMG_2048image1 (1)dump-em-outdo the twist.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/23/do-the-twist/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/23/do-the-twist/#commentsThu, 23 Mar 2017 01:16:32 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=4645]]>Well, she’s at it again. The twist and turn of temperature play is back on the rise and expected to hit the low 60s on Saturday. Plus, one, two, three days or more of rain this weekend will melt fresh pow to base coat as we slowly say goodbye to the ski season.
Fan guns ready for hibernation.

Fortunately for east coast slopes, Storm Stella’s snowflakes boosted conditions this past week. Every night through to April closing, we will continue working the trails— pushing, tilling, and seeding those bumps.

The Spring Equinox is a traditional celebration of longer days, sunshine, and soft blooms. April showers to May flowers. We anticipate warmer temps and we move to the groove of Spring cleaning. We wait for the snow to melt as we finally slow down, work a little less, and reflect on the season. Suddenly, we are back in full maintenance mode. Spooling water and air hoses, storing fan guns in the barn, cleaning equipment, and ripping duct tape gaitor wraps from our snow pants.

But— we still have a week and a half of skiing and riding. So, you have to get the snow while it’s still shining and take in every last bump, jump, rail, and grind.

It’s almost pond skimming and party time. Come on, do the twist, and get out on the slopes!

Our gratitude is big this week for the incredible drastic decrease in temperatures and the blessing of heavy natural snow fall. We revved up the guns nightly from Thursday to Sunday and reopened Widow Maker and The Chute. Recovery and recoup bumped our number of open trails back up to 38/39.

Winter Storm Stella hit us strong, dumping over 20″ of fresh powder across the slopes. We spent a good portion of our Tuesday plowing parking lots and shoveling walkways. Then plowing and shoveling again— and again and again. When Mother Nature takes on the hard work, it’s our job to make sure her work is appreciated. We plowed the way, and you heard the calling . Dedicated skiers and riders made it safe to the slopes for the best damn riding of the year.

Winter is still here and expected to stick around until the end of the March. Tentatively, that allows us to keep doors open into April. Cool temperatures and sunny days make the perfect match to keep on riding.

If you’re not reading this from the chairlift, you need to get here and ready to ride.

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/16/stella-blew/feed/6IMG_4100bluemountainsnowmakersIMG_4100IMG_4102IMG_4103dump-em-outsupport local!https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/08/support-local/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/08/support-local/#commentsWed, 08 Mar 2017 22:55:57 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=4391]]>The mountain’s beauty is depicted in all shapes and sizes from summit, humps, hills, and fall lines; the life that inhabits and contributes to the forest ecosystem; the reflection of moonlight beams on snowy slopes; the integral expression of color and emotion unleashed at sunrise to sun rest.

The transition to spring gives an enlivened invitation to embrace this beauty. To enjoy the winter harvest while relishing the sun’s warmth in thirty to sixty degree days. From Friday morning’s snow dust to today’s rising temps, the snow is still shining and ready to ride.

Again, we expect Mother Nature’s twist in transition this weekend. Springing forward (remember, Daylight Saving Time on Sunday!), yet holding on to her winter ways with a predicted 3-5 inches of snow fall come Friday. We anticipate celebrating this weekend’s below-freezing temps in true snowmiser fashion— adding fresh snow cover in due time for the Mogul Mania race this Saturday.

Here’s our brief mogul how-to:

Make snow (when possible, Mother Nature willing).

Groom trails.

Ty heads the task of ‘seeding’ moguls by pushing small piles of snow row by alternate row.

Frost the bumps (when possible, we like to dust more powder on top of seeded sections).

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/08/support-local/feed/5FullSizeRender.jpgbluemountainsnowmakersimg950582img_1690.jpgFullSizeRender.jpgImage result for barb green blue mountaindump-em-outsurvival mode.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/02/survival-mode/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/03/02/survival-mode/#commentsThu, 02 Mar 2017 00:00:42 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=4183]]>The crocuses are starting to bud. A pastel array amid the littered cans and single poles scattered lifeless under chairlift rides. The sun’s warmth brings the unfortunate truth that snow can’t last forever. And, like the left-hand glove fallen and forgotten, so are the snowflakes come spring time.

But let’s get real— Mother Nature is officially off her rocker. It’s cold, it’s hot. Now it’s raining, again. Her mood is increasingly unpredictable, and the impacts are greatly effecting riding time on the slopes. That’s why we make snow at every available opportunity. It’s the reason we can overcome 60 degree days and too many rain showers.

Significant snow pack keeps trails open.

Throughout the season, we continuously build our base depth ranging 18-48″ across the slopes. Snow pack keeps trails open. Additional snow stockpiles help fill bare spots to recover trails. We save what we can, given time and weather conditions, and we continue to groom every trail, every night.

Unfortunately, two weeks of warm and wet weather made us forfeit the glades, Chute, Frontier Alley, and a few tubing lanes. But marginal temps late Sunday night allowed quick automation start up to dust the open slopes. Moving into the weekend, cooler temperatures are expected to settle in. Come Friday morning, we may be riding with our tongues out catching Mother Nature’s fresh flakes.

Spoonful of sugar.

The temperature tug-of-war is effecting more than the snow face. It’s shaking ground as the freeze thaws and causing water main pipes to burst. We kicked off last weekend repairing a leak on Lower Sidewinder. The leak emerged 300 yards downhill from where it started, visible by water runoff alongside the trail . We towed the back hoe through the snow with a groomer and uncovered the leak after pushing six feet of snow. For a quick fix, Brian patched the pipe by welding. In the summer, we’ll replace sections of pipe and repair connections when the site is more accessible.

MISER FILES:

Nick

Meet, Nicholas Hadley.

Better know as: Nicholas Cage

Work: Full time, night crew Snowmaker, Mountain Ops

Play: Yamaha 540 VK snowmobile

Favorite trail: Burma Road because there is “a lot of good night making snow.”

A word from Papa Miser: “Nick is that guy that you give anything to do and he smiles and does it.”

Nick is a nine year veteran night crew snowmaker born and raised in Kunkeltown. He loves making snow. He notes, “I have done a lot, learned a lot, and enjoy being able to look at the work that I have done over the years.” Plus, Nick says, you can’t beat the view.

Greg

Meet, Greg Taylor.

Better known as: Greg

Work: Seasonal, Groomer, Mountain Ops

Play: Snowboard

Favorite trail: Paradise because “it’s just a long cruising trail.”

A word from Papa Miser: “Greg comes back in to push snow in the late afternoons and weekends to give the full time crew days off. He’s a conscientious hard worker and it shows in his work.”

Greg has been working on the clock since age 16, but he’s been following the crew around since age 10. He’s Papa Miser’s youngest kid. Needless to say, he’s been riding along in groomers since before he could walk. Greg is a long time snowmaker and groomer. Now, he works full time at Cooper Electric Supply Co. as a Switchgear Specialist/ Project Manager. In the winter, he grooms and rides. In the summer, he’s on the baseball field.

Yes, we have snow. Yes, the sun is shining. Yes, we are in survival mode, but there is definitely more time to ride.

As we move and groove to the tune of Mother Nature’s song, we find ourselves emerged in the flow of seasonal transition. Suddenly, the sun is rising strong, and the crowds on the slopes are spreading thin. There’s no better time to soar the slopes, and to be grateful for the snow still shining.

With consistent 60 degree days, snow conditions are reminiscent of spring. The opportunity to make more snow is few and far between, but we aren’t ready to forfeit just yet. Monday night, our guns were up and running, gracing the slopes with another sprinkle of snow. If odds go our way, there’s a chance for more recoup come Sunday night.

Redefine happy hour.

We know the sun calls for bike rides and dog walks and sipping margaritas at Slopeside, but the slopes beg you to keep skiing and riding. It takes a lot of energy to keep an east coast winter white. Waste not, want not— time to take advantage of the season stretch and snow play.

Here’s a break down on the primary energy powerhouse needed to make snow:

horse·pow·er

/ hôrsˌpou(ə)r/

noun: a unit of power equal to 33,000 foot pounds per minute (745.7 watts)

In a simple understanding, think of horsepower as the ability to lift 33,000 pounds and to move it one foot over a period of one minute. That’s a lot of strength. And endurance. And hard work. The power of an engine is measured by this strength.

Cat tracks.

Snowmaking at Blue:

Compressors create air to make snow. We have nine compressors with a collective strength of 9750 horsepower.

Water pumps move water to where it needs to be to make snow (i.e. trails, pond). We have 43 pumps with a collective strength of 7175 horsepower.

Fan guns are a type of gun used to make snow. We have 46 guns with 40 horsepower for a collective strength of 1840 fan gun horsepower.

Groomers are the cats that track the slopes, turning snow piles to skiable terrain. Every night, we have seven groomers at work with a collective strength of 2500 horsepower.

9750 + 7175 + 1840 + 2500 = 21, 265 horsepower

21,265 is a big number. A reminder that hard work, collective strength, and energy is what gives this mountain true grit and snow shine.

A word from Papa Miser: “Kristin does a great job grooming parks and building terrain base learning. She brings many years of experience from having different jobs at different mountains. She’s a good asset to our team.”

Kristin has worked in the ski industry for eighteen years, operating snow cats for the past thirteen. In the summer, Kristin is the Excavator Operator for the Blue Mountain Bike Park. She has been skiing for 28 years and continues riding the trails mountain biking when the snow melts. Kristin notes, she’s been “lucky to experience” Mammoth and June Mountain in CA.

Eddie

Meet, Edward Maslanka.

Better known as: Eddie

Work: Seasonal, day crew Snowmaker, Mountain Ops

Play: Snowboard

A word from Papa Miser: “Eddie is quick to catch on to snowmaking. He is willing to do any and every job that is given to him, and he does it well. He’s always willing to learn. We hope he returns back next year.”

This is Eddie’s first season with the snowmiser crew. In his free time, he likes to ride his dirt bike and four wheeler.

When the sun shines, the snow sparkles.

See you on the slopes,

the snowmisers

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/22/soar-the-slopes/feed/4img_2842bluemountainsnowmakersfullsizerender-jpgimg_0595-jpgimg_0590-jpgkristineddieimage2dump-em-outmixing bowl.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/16/mixing-bowl/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/16/mixing-bowl/#respondThu, 16 Feb 2017 02:18:25 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=3890]]>We all have good days and bad days, the ups and downs and the in-betweens. On the slopes, the state of our days are subject to the grand forces of Mother Nature. Her wicked winds. Her chilling temperatures. Her sweet sun kisses. Her snowflake wonderlands.

We can work around the clock to make snow, to push, to till, to sled, to ride— but if tomorrow her tears pour and temperatures hit 40, conditions will undoubtedly slop like a plate of mashed potatoes.

With every drop below 28 degrees wet bulb temp, the guns are blowing.

Last Thursday, we were blessed with seven inches of natural snow fall. With the exception of Sunday’s showers, we’ve continued the white out by taking advantage of every opportunity to make snow across the slopes. Mother Nature permitting, the guns will keep blowing through to Saturday morning, when temperatures are expected hit the high 50s.

As promised, temporary closures are now reopened after a full weekend of competition on Razor’s Edge, Sidewinder Park, and Central Park. Sidewinder Park is currently set with fifteen features. And, with cooperative temps, all 39 trails are now open.

Riders on the storm.

Snow, rain, or shine, our groomer fleet will be working the trails every single night. Every day, come first run, conditions will be the best they can be, weather permitting. Throughout the day, it’s expected that conditions will change. If it’s warm, 8 am corduroy might become 8 pm slush. If it’s cold, 8 am powder might become 8 pm ice.

It’s important to note the typical frustrations of a northeast winter. The drastic shift from low 20 degree temps to high 50s. The freeze and thaw and freeze of base depths, and the constant recoups to powder over ice sheets. As skiers and riders, and outdoor enthusiasts, we know that conditions can only be as good as Mother Nature allows.

Sun haze and snow fall. Powder in the glades.

As we review comments about snow conditions, we can’t help but bring to light the direct effect that Mother Nature has on our work. And while we welcome all comments— the good, the bad, and the ugly— we ask you to first recognize weather conditions before concluding on snow conditions. Every comment and suggestion, for us, is a lesson on how to improve our work, our service, and your experience. But if days are rainy and temps are warm, snow will be slush— and it’s not our doing.

New prototype gun from Techno Alpin, demoed here because they know we put our guns to the test.

Let us take each day by day. Let us embrace this week’s cold front and killer riding conditions. Let us be grateful that we are skiing and riding and working in this mixing bowl of snow and sun and wind and rain.

If you have a question, please, ask a snowmiser. Because we know, it’s all about the snow. It’s all about the experience. And, most importantly, it’s all about the ride.

See you on the slopes,

the snowmisers

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/16/mixing-bowl/feed/0img_0844bluemountainsnowmakersimg950580img_20170205_070856img_20170214_064426899img_20170205_064919dump-em-outfire on the mountain.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/08/fire-on-the-mountain/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/08/fire-on-the-mountain/#respondWed, 08 Feb 2017 15:39:59 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=3660]]>We wear helmets when we ride. Ear plugs when we work. Glasses when we weld. But when push comes to shove, there’s no preparing for the unpredictable.

Late night late last week, a glitch in groomer fine-tuning caused fire on the mountain. A 29 cent o-ring let loose, allowing hydraulic fluid to spray onto the exhaust system, setting the cat to flames. We can’t say this was the first fire, but we can assure that no cats or misers were harmed. Fortunately, OD’s fast reaction and former training led to a quick extinguish. Come daylight, our mechanics changed the o-ring and sent the groomer out pushing by nightfall.

Rewind back to Friday night, a big fault interrupted the automation system. A broken pipe caused flooding in one of our shelters that house automated hydrants and electrical connections. Isolating the cause made for a quick fix to continue snowmaking through Sunday morning, when temperatures started to rise.

Goodmorning, snow shine.

Fast forward to Winter Fest! We are now winding down, sending a big thank you to everyone that joined in the celebration. Here’s a recap of some questions from our behind-the-scenes snowmaking tours:

Q: Why do you use cooling towers?

A: The colder the water, the sooner it will freeze, the more snow we can make. When cold water leaves the gun and hits the air, it freezes quicker to make snow. The cooling towers help make the snowmaking process more efficient, taking 55 degree water down to 33 degrees.

Q: Where does the water for the cooling towers come from?

A: We use water from our local creeks in the Delaware River Basin. Come spring, the snow melts and runs back into the creeks.

Q: How many people do you need to make snow?

A: We have six snowmakers per shift x two shifts + seven groomers a night = 19 people. But, that’s just the base count. We can’t make snow and operate efficiently without the whole Mountain Ops crew. Add on the Vehicle Maintenance crew, Lift Maintenance crew, parking lot crew, clean up crew, and the Jack-of-all-Trades crew. With the full-time, part-time, and seasonal mix, we operate with 50+ people.

Post Winter Fest, we pushed the luge track shut and stockpiled the snow upwards of Summit School Hill. We will recycle the snow back into the mix when school hill needs a recoup.

Besides clean up and repairs, this week’s start has been pretty quiet. With two consecutive warm nights, our night crew snowmakers headed north to ski, ride, talk snow, and enjoy new terrain. As temperatures are set to drop this evening, the full crew will be back making snow on the home front. Current forecasts are calling for 3-10″ of natural flakes accumulating tonight through tomorrow morn. Fingers crossed Mother Nature sends a little extra love our way.

We’re still singing, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

MISER FILES:

Joe

Meet, Joseph Chirico.

Better known as: Joe

Work: Part-time, Mountain Ops

Play: Ski and snowboard

A word from Papa Miser: “Joe’s a good young kid. First year with the crew. He’s doing a good job helping to park buses and cars.”

Tyler

Meet, Tyler Schappell.

Better known as: Tank

Work: Seasonal, day crew Snowmaker, Mountain Ops

Play: Snowboard

Favorite trail: Sidewinder because, “I like the rails and the jumps.”

A word from Papa Miser: “First year snowmaker. Good young guy, hard worker. Fits right in with the rest of the guys.”

Out of the barn, onto the slopes.

This weekend, Sidewinder Park and Razor’s Edge will be closed from February 9-13 for the USCSA Mid-Atltantic Regional Freestyle and GS Race competition and the USASA Mid-Atlantic Skier-BoarderX. Temporary closures will re-open to the public no later than early morning Tuesday, February 14. Check out our events calendar for more details and its sister tab ‘Currently at Blue’ for daily weather updates and trail conditions.

Stay connected.

It’s mighty cold weather, you’ve been braving. Is it more winter or is it spring that you’re craving? Since you’ve been up all night and starting to tottle, I, Punxsutawney Phil, shall not dawdle. My faithful followers, I could clearly see a beautiful, perfect shadow of me. Six more weeks of winter, it shall be!

-Punxsutawney Phil at Gobbler’s Knob, February 2, 2017

Oh, yes, let it snow.

See you on the slopes,

the snowmisers

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/08/fire-on-the-mountain/feed/0img950556bluemountainsnowmakersimg950564img950556img_3908tylerimage3img_3306dump-em-outbackstage pass.https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/01/backstage-pass/
https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/01/backstage-pass/#commentsWed, 01 Feb 2017 18:36:52 +0000http://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/?p=3548]]>A whisper of flakes from Mother Nature is the perfect thread to knit trail conditions back to awesome. Natural and man-made flakes coagulate a prime powder finish, the icing on the cake after days of snowmaking to revive trails from any slush or skid of ice.

Automation shut down this morning as the temps climbed a little too high. But, before the week ends, the forecast predicts lower temperatures for ’round the clock snowmaking. A reminder to you, bring your goggles! And expect a few trail closures as we dust and sweep for a recouped ride.

Steep and deep sweep.

In our season set to redefine Blue, this weekend is all about the party. Our annual Winter Fest is THIS weekend— a FREE event to try out new winter sports and a backstage pass for our behind-the-scenes snowmaking tour with Bob Taylor, Mountain Manager, our favorite Papa Miser. Tours are Saturday, February 4, at 11 am and 3 pm and Sunday, February 5, at 12 pm. Meet at the tented patio off of the Alpine room five minutes prior to tour time.

Also, make sure to race and ride our authentic luge track! Constructed by snowmiser, AJ, in conjunction with the USA Luge team, Blue is the only mountain with a natural luge track in the entire country. Check, check, check it out.

Winter wonderland.

MISER FILES:

Gerry.

Meet, Gerry Saemmer.

Better known as: Gerry

Work: Full-time, day shift Mountain Ops

Favorite trail: Paradise because of “the way it’s laid out.”

A word from Papa Miser: “Gerry and Chris help keep this place clean. They take care of the garbage, keep our trails looking clean, our parking lots clean. Give them a job to do and they get it done right.”

Chris.

Meet, Chris Saemmer.

Better known as: Chris

Work: Full-time, day shift Mountain Ops

Favorite trail: Lazy Mile because it’s “fun going down.”

A word from Papa Miser: “Chris wants to work and just keeps going. He’s like the energizer bunny.”

Gerry and Chris are a father and son team. This is Gerry’s sixth season and Chris’ fifth. They work awesome together, tending the parking lots and the slopes, keeping the mountain clean and the energy moving.

Doug.

Meet, Douglas Schaerer.

Better known as: Doug

Work: Seasonal, night crew Snowmaker, Mountain Ops

Play: Ski

Favorite trail: Razorback because it’s “steep and deep.”

A word from Papa Miser: “Doug fills his time here in the winter. He does a great job and he enjoys working on the different style guns that we have.”

Doug works as a whitewater guide in the summer and snowmaker in the winter. In his free time, Doug likes to kayak and mountain bike. An outdoors enthusiast, Doug also notes, “I appreciate poetry, fine wine, and beautiful women.”

Winch cat climb.

On or off the slopes, we’ll see you this weekend. Redefine party, and ride on.

See you soon,

the snowmisers

]]>https://bluemountainsnowmakers.com/2017/02/01/backstage-pass/feed/4img_0136bluemountainsnowmakersimg_0136img_0500gerrychrisdougimg_0138dump 'em out